Initiating device.



m. 654,6. Patent'ed July 31,1900.

E. & u. 8. DE MOULIN.

INITIATING DEVICE.

lApplieatioh filed Feb. 20, 1900.

(No Model.) 2-Sh-nts-Sheet 2..

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I Fries.

EDMUND-DEMOULIN AND'ULY SSES S.,DE MOULIN, OF GREENVILLE,

ILLINOIS.

i N I IATINGQ EVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Letters jlatent No. 654,611, dated Ja s-1', 1900.

Application filed February 20,1900. Serial No. 5,940. (No model.)

To aZZ tu hom it m ayco'iec'ern: y

Beit known that We, EDMUND DE MOULIN and ULYSSES S. DE MoULIN, citizens of the United States, residing atGreenville, in the county of Bond and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Initiating Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices employed in initiating applicants for membership in secret organizations, &c. and it has for its object to provide a device of this class whichis in the nature of a spanking-machine, the construction being such that the applicant will be struck with a paddle and at the same time will be given an electric shock,the mechanism being thrown into operation by the applicant himself. I In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is'aperspective View showing the initiating device and the position of theapplicant in the act of operating it. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view showing the mechanism set and ready for operation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing the partsafter the mechanism is sprung.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing the.

parts in their s'et 'positions, the section being taken on line 4 4 of, Fig. 2 and showing parts in elevation. Fig. 5is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3 and showing the mechanism sprung. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the latch.

The mechanism of the present invention is inclosed in a platform comprisinga top 10, sides 11 and 12, and ends 13 and 14. In the top is formed an opening'14 and through this opening are passed the ends of angular plates 15, which are pivoted by means of a pivot B to ears 16, carried bythe 'top'lO, and which plates are fastened'to the sides of the base of a paddle 17. The inner ends of the plates-15 are connected by a cross-bar 18, with which are also connected a plurality of helical springs 19, having their'opposite ends passed through the end 14 of the platform and attached thereto. The tendency of these springs 19 is to hold the paddle vertical and at substantially a right angle to the position shown in Fig.1. This paddlelis adapted to strike an applicant standing upon the platform when released, afterbeing drawndownwardly to place the springs l9 under tension, and in order to hold the paddle in its retracted position a latch mechanism is employed.

The latch mechanism comprises a follower 20, the side edges of whichlare reduced in thickness, as shown at 21,'a nd are engaged with guideways 22, secured to the under face .of the top 10. To one end of this follower 20 is secured a metallic strap 23, having its free end looped around the pin 18, while at the opposite end of the follower 20 there is secured a latch-tongue 24, of spring metal. A releaserfor the latch-tongue 24 is formed by a metallic bar 25, the ends of which are secured to the under sides of thefree' ends of two spring boards 26, the opposite ends of which are secured to the underside of the top 10 and mounted upon blocks 26 ,adjacent the sides 11 and 12 of the platform, so that the free ends of the boards may be moved in the. .directionof the top 10.

are mounted upon the upper ends of rods 30 and 31, which latter are passed through perforations in the top 10 and are secured at theirlower ends to the bar 25, these rods 30 and 31 being adapted to slide freelythrough the top 10 to correspondingly move the bar 25. A keeper 32 for the spring-tongue 24 is secured to the ends of the guide-pieces 22 and in such position as to be engaged by the spring-tongue when thefollower is moved in one direction. The proportions of the parts are such that when the. paddle 17 is depressed to assume the position shown in Fig. lthe follower 20 will be moved, through the medium of the plates 15 and strap 23, to engage the tongue 24 with the keeper 32.. This keeper 32 is so positioned that when the tongue isengaged therewith the extremity of the tongue, will project beyond the keeper and into the path of upward movement of the bar 25. Thus when the handles 28 and 29 are grasped and are drawn upwardly the bar 25, which forms the releaser, will engage the outer end of the spring-tongue and will move it upwardly and Handles 28 and 29 p away from the keeper 32, when the springs 19 will draw the latch-tongue from the keeper and will at the same time throw the outer end of the paddle upwardly. It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings that the handles are so placed thatin order to grasp thernthe applicant must stoop and will thus: assume a position to be struck with the ad? die. As shown in the several figures of the drawings, the outer end of the latch-tongue is beveled on its lower side, so as to ride freely over the keeper and move in one directiontm snap the tongue into engagement with vthe keeper. 7 a

The head .of the paddle consistsof ari-gid portion 35, which is formed integral with the stem-and base, and com-prises also a leaf 36, which ishinged to the head, at the under side of the ,latter, and has. a. projection 37 to receive a gun-cap. V The momentum which the, leaf-26. attains. when the paddle is sprung is such, as ito throw the leaf against theheadof the paddlewith sufficientforce toexplode the cap." l

Inconnection with the paddling mechan-- ism. above described an'induction-coil is connected with. the'handles 28- and 29- and is adapted for operation during the upward movementofthe paddle. Thisinduction-coil comprises a primary windingone terminal 40 of which is. connected with a pole of abattery 47, while. its, opposite terminal 48; is connectedwith one elementlof a-make-andbreak, the fixed contact 49 of which is connectedwith the. opposite pole of the battery 47 or is adapted tobe connected with the opposite pole. of thebattery 47 by engagement of two contact-plates. 50' andv5l, both of which are mounted uponthe adjacent guide 22. The plate. 51 lies belowthe plate 50, and both of theseplates project outwardly and lie below the follower 20. -This follower has a rib 52, fixed upon its lower face and of such length and height that it will engage the plate 50- andpress it down-wardlyand into contact with the. plate 51 during a proper portion of the time of upward movement of thepaddle, theends of the. rib being beveled, as shown, to permit the rib. to wedge abovethecontact plate50; The terminals 53land 54 of the secondary winding. of theinduction-coil are connectedwith the handles 28 and 29 through the rods 30 and 31,0ne of the terminalsof the secondary winding being connectedthrough the medium of 'a' wire 55 with the rod 30 through thebar 25, while the other'terminal I ofl.the secondary is connected by means ofthewire. 56 directly with, the rod 3l. Withthisarrangementof induction-coil and bat tery with their accompanying mechanism,it will be seen that when the rib 51 presses-the spring 50 into engagement with the spring 52 theprima-ry circuit will be closedianda shock from'the secondary circuit will be transmitted through the. handles. It will. of course be understood, however, that, if preferred, the

plates 50 and 52may be included in the sec ondary circuit, and the primary circuit may be kept closed, except for the make-andbreak, duringv the operation of the device.

' In usin g this initiating device the applicant for admission is first blindfolded and'then placed in proper position upon the platform 'afidis directed to grasp the handles and pull to test his strength, it being understood that thepaddle has previously been drawn down and into operative position. When the handles are drawn upwardly, the bar 25 engages to release the follower, when the helical 'sprin-gsl9 act todraw the plates 15 rearwardly and throw the paddle upwardly to spank the applicant. At the same time the gun-cap isexploded and -theelectric" shock-passes through Lthe armsof the applicant, making the sensation rather unique It will further be understood that: changes may be: made in the specific arrangement shown-andthat modifications may be made and also that any suitablematerials and profrom thespiri'b he invention. a M. i

Wha-tis claimed is combination with a movable paddle and means for moving it, of means for holding the paddle againstmovement, means for releasing the holding means, an electric circuit including the releasing means, and means con trolled bythe paddle for energizing said circu-it.

n 2. ,A device of the class described eompris= ing-a pivoted paddle, springs connectedwitli der tension, means comprising handles'for 'releasing, the springs tooperate the paddle, an electric circu'it including the handles,- and means controlled by the paddlefor energizing said circuit. a l

3. A device of theclass described-commie the paddle; a follower connected withthepad die, a keeper, alatch-tongue upo-ntlie fo1 lower and adapted to engage the keeper and hold-the paddle with the springs 'undertension, a releasing device, and handles connected with the releasing device.

4: Adevice of the class describedcomprising a pivoted paddle, helical springs: connected with the paddle, a follower connected with the paddle, a keeper, a latchtongue mounted upon the follower-and adapted to engage the keeperand hold the tongue with the springs under tension, a releasing-bar forengagement withthe tongue'to move it from the keeper, handles connected with therel'easingbar, a sou-roe of electricity, and connections between saidsourceand the handles; f:

ing a mo vablepaddlasprings-con-nected with the paddle for movement in one direction, a

follower connected with the paddle, a latchportions may be employed without departing 1. In a device of the class described, the

the paddle, means for holding the-springs-un- .thelatch-tongne and movesiit from its keeper 4 rid ing-a pivotedpaddle, springs connected with 5. A device of the class-described compristongue carried by the foiiower, a keeper for our own we have hereto affiized our' signatures engagement by the latch-tongue, means for in the presence of two witnesses.

moving the tongue from the keeper, handles EDMUND DE MOULIN.

connected with said moving means, and an- ULYSSES S. DE MOULIN; 5 induction-coil having a secondary winding Witnesses:

connected with the handles. HENRY O. DIEHL;

In testimony that We claim the-foregoing as 1 JEssiE B. BARR. 

